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Re: fHuman vs. natural influences on the environment



In article <4uiljn$deg@igc.apc.org>, tomgray 
<tomgray@igc.apc.org> wrote:

(BIG CUT)

>
>I think we understand enough now to begin fixing it, so why 
wait?
>Since the problem stems from greenhouse gases, and we can 
reduce
>our emissions of those gases, how long do you feel that 
study
>is required?  (Not that I'm opposed to continuing research 
on
>the subject, I just think that enough is known now to begin 
acting.)

How about studying the problem long enough to determine how 
the oceans figure into the problem of global climate.  To get 
even a "reasonable" understanding of the problem, you must 
admit that the energy balances between the oceans and 
atmosphere are tightly coupled: you can't separate either 
energy balance because each affects the other.  It would be 
nice to know how these systems interact before we try to 
change either of them.  Without this understanding, it will 
be practically impossible to construct correct computer 
models, and without computer models, we have no hope of being 
able to measure our progress.



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